As the ship comes into the harbour the impressive Koule (Venetian) Fortress dating from the 16th century stands guard over the city. Heraklion is the largest city of Crete and one of Greece's major urban centres. Its development begun in the wake of the 9th century AD (in antiquity, Knossos was the island's most important centre). In later times, Heraklion came under Arabic, Venetian and Ottoman rule. Among the most outstanding sights of Heraklion are the fortification walls that delimit the "old city" which were built between 1462 - 1562.

In the heart of the city there are many monuments and fountains dating to the Middle Ages, a period in which Heraklion witnessed great prosperity. There are also many imposing churches and chapels but these do not overshadow the delightful squares that are dotted around the city. A delightfully friendly city to wander about.

Our tour today took us five km south of Heraklion to Knossos, one of the most important archaeological sites in Europe, the legendary political and ceremonial centre of the Minoan civilization from 1900 to 1400 BC. The Palace of Knossos, the largest one in Minoan Crete, witnessed two architectural phases and was devastated by the earthquake of Santorini (1450 BC). The site contains the remains of the palace of Minos, of dwellings occupied by officials, priests and residents, as well as cemeteries. The Palace is an intricate building complex built around a central court. It was laid out on a surface of 22,000 m2 and contains royal apartments, ceremonial quarters, treasure rooms, workshops and storage spaces. Additionally we got to see what is purported to be the oldest road in Europe leading away from the site. It was partially restored in the early 20th century and the mansion (Villa Ariadne) built by Arthur Evans for the use of archaeologists was the headquarters of the Third Reich's military governorship of Crete for 3 years. Not exactly what it was intended for !!

A visit to the famous Heraklion Archaeological Museum, one of the most important museums in Greece, is a "must see" to truly appreciate the intricacies of the Minoan civilization. There are artifacts from over 5500 years of Cretan history and it contains almost all the unique treasures of the Minoan civilization unearthed at Knossos.